870 Sidesaddle

This is a discussion on 870 Sidesaddle within the Defensive Rifles & Shotgun Discussion forums, part of the Related Topics category; I am going to buy a sidesaddle (4rd) for my 870. I've narrowed it down to a TacStar or Mesa. Does anyone have experience with ...

870 Sidesaddle

I am going to buy a sidesaddle (4rd) for my 870. I've narrowed it down to a TacStar or Mesa. Does anyone have experience with either? At Midway the Mesa is $60 and the TacStar $27, is the Mesa worth the extra money?

Is it just the screws that are different? If so, a trip to the hardware store might be cheaper than a order in to Wilson.

Edit; the Wilson is only a couple of dollars more anyway...

IIRC, the Wilson bolts aren't threaded along the full length- that just means they are easier to push through. The flat heads on the Tacstar are pretty sharp, and cosmetically, get pretty rough, pretty fast, like most flat head screws. I also put a nylon shim under the bolt heads on my SS, to reduce the abrading on the receiver. Not a necessity, but keeps the resale value, and reduces the chance of them rusting in place.

The Tac-Star I purchased in December came with Hex screws, not flat heads, so they may have changed the parts that come with it, I'll take some pictures when I get home.

The one thing I like about the Mesa units is the model that comes with the rail, my 870 has an upgraded front sight and I've been wanting to put a Ghost Ring rear similar to what's on the FNH, and the Mesa would allow me to do that with out drilling and tapping my receiver.